Steel measuring rule



May 31, 1949- E. J. wlTcHGER 2,471,709

STEEL MEILSURING RULE Filed April 28, 1947 [N V EN TOR.

Patented May 31, 1949 UNITED STATE STEEL MEASURING RULE Eugene J. Witchger, Saginaw, Mich., assignor to The Lufkin Rule C0., Saginaw, Mich.

Application April 28, 1947, Serial No. 744,486

3 Claims.

This invention relates to s-teel measuring rules, preferably of the concave-convex type, and more specifically to a means for securing the outer free end of the coiled rule to prevent its working out of the case after it has been fully wound.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to provide lan improved rule of this character having various features of novelty and advantage, and wherein means is provided on the free end of the rule for engagement with a wall of the `ca-se to hold the rule in its fully wound position.

A further object is to design a very simple, practical, and economical securing means for releasably locking the free end of the rule in position in the case, eliminating creeping movement, whereby the free end of `the coiled rule, due to its cross-sectional shape and inherent resiliency, tends to creep out of the case, and become snagged on clothing when carried in the pocket, in the hand, or become tangled with other articles when carried in a receptacle.

With the above `and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in lthe form, size, proportion, `and minor details lof construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacriiicing Iany of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side-elevational view of the structure in accordance with this invention, the side wall being broken away to show the securing means.

Fig. 2 is an edgeelevational view.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional, side-elevational vlew showing a slightly modified construction.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the co-ilable rule is mounted in a casing C consisting of side plates wall-s 5 and 6, spaced apart by means :of a wall member l shaped to conform with the outline of the side plates and secured therebetween in any suitable manner.

The bottom wall of the easing is preferably flat as shown at 8, and an entrance slot 9 is 4provided in the wall as shown, said slot being of a size to freely accommodate a conventional graduated measuring rule or tape T of the concave-convex type, which rule can be coiled in the casing C and withdrawn from and returned into the casing through the entrance slot 9.

CII

The inner end of the rule T is anchored to and wound on a center post II that spans the side walls of the case, and a hook member l2 is secured to the free -end there-of by means of small rivets R or the like, the end I3 of said hook being bent downwardly as shown to facilitate handling and drawing the rule from the case and also to limit and prevent the hook end being drawn entirely into the case.

The rivets R are formed with projecting heads I4 as shown, and a transversely disposed, inwardly extending rib I5 is formed in the bottom wall of the casing, the heads of the rivets engaging the rib I5 when the rule is in fully coiled position, this rib serving as a lock to secure the rule against its natural tendency to uncoil and push the free end of the tape rule outwardly, and while in the present instance I have shown but one rib, it will be obvious that more may be provided if desired.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing I have shown a slightly modified design in which an outwardly projecting groove I'I is provided in the bottom wall of the case, and the head of the rivet R engages said groove when the rule is wound.

The locking means is Very simple and inexpensive; it requires no additional parts; the ribs lor grooves can be readily pressed in the casing when the casing parts are stamped, and it is conventional practice at present to use small rivets with projecting heads, such as are referred to in the instant application, for securing the hook to the free end of the rule.

When the rule is fully coiled in the case, the natural tendency of the metal is to uncoil, consequently, the free end of the tape presses down and against the bottom wall of the case so that the rivet heads engage behind the rib I5; the rule will be securely held until such time as the user exerts an outward pull of sufficient force to frictionally disengage the rivets, or a slight upward lift on the hook end will also disengage the rule.

From the foregoing description, it will be clearly obvious that I have perfected a very simple, practical, and inexpensive locking means for coilable measuring rules.

What I claim is:

l. In a measuring device of the character described, the combination comprising a case formed with a hat base and vertical end walls with an entrance slot in the end wall adjacent one end of said base, a coilable measuring rule in said case and projecting through said slot, a hook secured on the free end of the rule, and means in said base spaced inwardly from said entrance slot transversely disposed rib stamped inthet'ca'se and rivets for securing the h'ook" on the end of the rule, With the heads of the rivets engageable with .4 the rib to secure the hook in releasable locked position.

EUGENE J. WITCHGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED S'IATESA BATENTS Name Date Evans Mar. 8, 1938 Number 

